Just with any other roof, whether it is metal, asphalt or slate, there is one main function that they are meant to offer – shelter. Everybody wants a roof that can protect them from the weather. Now, slate is often preferred as a roofing material because of its robust build and durability. It is one of the strongest materials found naturally on earth, which has been used to create roofing tiles since the historic age. Roofs made with slate can last from anywhere between 100 to 200 years. This makes them one of the best options for many homeowners to choose from. However, they are also into different types. What are they? Read below:
Standard Slate: These slate tiles are rectangular in shape and have square-cut butts. They mostly have a common length and breadth of a standard 1/4” and 3/8” respectively. The tiles are installed in uniform across a horizontal setting, and carefully aligned alternate vertical joints.
Patterned Slate: You might mistake it to be a standard slate roofing, and that is because a patterned slate type is similar to standard slate roofing due to the manner it is laid out in. What distinguishes them is that patterned roofing involves a specific design with various coloured or shaped shingles into the primary design of a slate roof. The benefit of this type is that you have the option to choose different colours and accents, like geometric or floral patterns, or maybe even names, words or dates.
Random Width Slate: Random width slate shingles of equal length and thickness are installed just like a standard slate roof, but the tiles differ in terms of their width. Usually, they range from as less as 2 to as many as 8 widths. Most professional roofing contractors prefer this because it is the easiest to place and the quickest to install of all slate types.
Blended/Multicoloured Slate: By combining a random width slate roof with a mix of colours, you will have multicoloured roofing. The most popular theme is a 4-colour medley, but that does not mean that you cannot add or lessen colours.
Graduated Length Slate: In this type of roofing, the widest and longest tiles are installed at the eaves, where most of the water is carried. The narrowest and shortest shingles are places at the top, where the least amount of water is carried. The tiles by the eaves can have a thickness of 1 or more inches, whilst it is around 3/16 inches thick near the top.
Textural Slate: Slates with rougher thicknesses and surface textures are mixed and used to bring out a unique roof appearance. The effect gives an uneven hewn look by leaving a variety of thick shingles lying next to one another.
Staggered Butt Slate: It is a simple type where long tiles are randomly laid with the top placed in the same line or higher, and the extra length is allowed to stick out at the bottom. Hence, that name.
These are the different types of roofing you can get by opting for slate shingles. Which style you prefer is totally up to you. Just ensure that you hire an experienced slate roofing company for the installation like The Slate Roofing Company.
